In this interview, we sit down with Dana Vela, President and CEO of Kama’aina Kids, to discuss how her organization has leveraged 1Place to enhance operational efficiency across multiple sites in Hawaii. You can find both the video recording of the interview and the full transcript below. Enjoy!
Dana, can you tell us a little about yourself and your goals for Kama’aina Kids?
I am Dana Bella, President and CEO of Kama’aina Kids. We operate on four islands in Hawaii with 22 preschool locations and about 100 after-school locations. In August of last year, I celebrated 40 years in the field of early childhood. My primary goal is to ensure consistent, high-quality education and care across all our sites, which can be quite challenging.
What were some of the challenges you faced before implementing 1Place?
When I joined Kama’aina Kids during COVID, it was a new position for me. We were using outdated tools—pencil and paper checklists—which were not practical for real-time updates across multiple islands. This made it difficult to ensure consistency and high standards across all locations. We needed a more efficient way to manage and monitor operations.
How did the geography and distance between locations impact your operations?
The distance made it challenging to ensure all sites adhered to health, safety, and quality standards. Each director and teacher had slightly different views and practices. Using paper checklists and making physical visits were not feasible or efficient. We needed a system that provided real-time updates and allowed us to manage expectations consistently across all sites.
What made you decide to try 1Place?
I discovered 1Place by accident while searching through my spam folder. The concept intrigued me, and upon exploring further, I realized it was precisely what we needed. 1Place offered customizable checklists and best practices that fit our needs perfectly. The ability to see real-time photos from classrooms was a game-changer for us.
How did you first implement 1Place in your organization?
We had a slow ramp-up due to some operational challenges, but 1Place was very patient and supportive. Initially, we used it for basic checklists, but as we became more comfortable, we expanded its use. We developed a regional manager checklist for site visits, allowing for continuous improvement and consistency across all sites.
Have you noticed improvements since implementing 1Place?
Absolutely. The before-and-after pictures show significant improvements in cleanliness, safety, and consistency across our classrooms. It has been instrumental in helping us maintain high standards and brand consistency, even as we face competition from public schools offering free programs. 1Place allows us to manage operations more efficiently and ensure our staff has everything they need to provide high-quality care.
What advice would you give to other organizations considering 1Place?
The flexibility and customization 1Place offers make it an invaluable tool for any organization managing multiple sites. It might seem daunting at first, but the incremental improvements and ease of use make it worth the investment. It’s the best operational tool I’ve come across, and it has significantly improved our staff satisfaction and consistency.
Any final thoughts?
I highly recommend 1Place to any organization looking to enhance operational efficiency and maintain high standards across multiple locations. It’s been a transformative tool for us, and I’m confident it can do the same for others.
